Extensible electrical conductor cord or ribbon



Jan. '10, 1939. F. DANS ARD I 2,143,649

' EXTENSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR CORD 0R RIIBBON Filed July 25, 1937 fil/xDq/vsmazz IN VE N TOR BY ag 4 Q.

A TTORNEX-i' Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Felix Dansard, Saint-Chamond, France Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,189 In France January 5, 1937 5 Claims.

Flexible wire is commonly used for connecting together movable electrical apparatus or for connecting them with sockets or other fixed points, such for instance as telephonic receivers or emitters, electric irons, radio apparatus, portable lamps, and so on.

These electric wires, generally enclosed in a plaited cord, have a tendency to twist so as to form spirals which constitute a serious inconvenience and gradually produce deterioration of the cable. For instance, in the case of a telephonic apparatus, it is frequently necessary to untwist the cord, which, in the course of a conversation, constitutes a nuisance and a loss of time.

The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical conductor system which obviates these drawbacks.

According to the essential feature of the present invention, this conductor system is constituted by the combination of two elements, on the one hand and inextensible support carrying, incorporated therein, the electric wire or wires, this support being normally folded upon itself and consisting preferably of an accordion plaited band, and on the other hand, an elastic element, for instance a rubber cord or a spring, connected at its ends to the respective ends of said plaited band, and passing through a series of holes formed in said band, so as to be guided therein, said elastic element being, in its normal unstretched state, shorter than the inextensible element, so as to urge it toward its folded, or plaited, state.

The extensibility of such a system depends on the one hand upon the extensibility of the elastic element, and on the other hand upon the distance between two consecutive holes of the inextensible support band, that is to say in the case of an accordion plaiting the length of each plait.

The conductor system according to the invention is extremely flexible and will last for a long time, since, in case of deterioration of the elastic element, it sufllces to replace it forgiving back the cord or ribbon its properties of extensibility.

The folding of the woven or braided ribbon greatly reduces the space it occupies and multiplies the development thereof to a substantial degree.

The utilization of this conductor system is therefore especially advantageous in connection with telephonic apparatus, radio receivers and.

emitters, and also electric irons, vacuum cleaners, and similar apparatus, for replacing the usual rigid cords, which are long and awkward, lie on the ground and finally deteriorate.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by 5 way of example, and in'which:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show in plan view, and in section on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1, respectively a ribbon adapted to act as a support for electrical conductors according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a small length of an elastic cord;

Figs. 5 and 6 show an end of an extensible cord respectively in the state of rest and partly elongated.

According to the present invention, the electrical conductor wires 1 are enclosed in an inextensible ribbon 2 which is braided or woven, and they are arranged side by side with the desirable precautions for obtaining an insulation corresponding to the conditions of use.

Along the edges of the ribbon or preferably in its median part, and either at regular intervals or not, are provided apertures 3 consisting either of slits or of holes with eyelets. 2

This ribbon 2, either braided or woven, is carefully folded, the number of plaits being equal to that of apertures 3. A spring or rubber cord 4, either bare or coated is introduced in saidapertures and theplaits of ribbon 2 are brought as close as possible to one another. Then the spring or rubber cord 4 is securely connected at each end to the corresponding end 5 of the ribbon, either directly or by sewing or by means of a binder 6. 3

It will be readily understood that, when the plaited ribbon 2 is stretched, it is elongated and when it is released it comes back to its folded position owing to the action of elastic cord or spring 4.

In a general manner, it should be well understood that the invention is not in any way limited to the above described embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. An extensible electrical conductor system which comprises, in combination, an inextensible support in the form of an elongated element pro- 55 vided with a plurality of holes along its length, at least one electrical conductor incorporated in said support, an elastic element extending through said holes and of a length in the unstretched state shorter than that of said support, and means for connecting the respective ends of said support and said elastic element.

2. An extensible electrical conductor system which comprises, in combination, an inextensible support in the form of a band provided with a plurality of holes along its length, at least one electrical conductor incorporated in said band, an elastic element extending through said holes and of a length in the unstretched state shorter than that of said support, and means for interconnecting the respective ends of said support and said elastic element.

3. An extensible electrical conductor system which comprises, in combination, an inextensible support in the form of a band provided with a plurality of holes along its length, at least one electrical conductor incorporated in said band, a rubber cord extending through said holes and of a length in the unstretched state shorter than that of said support, and means for interconnecting the respective ends of said band and said rubber cord.

4. An extensible electrical conductor system which comprises, in combination, an inextensible support in the form of a band provided with a plurality of holes along its length, said holes being so positioned that by folding said band in an accordion-plaited manner they are all in line, at least one electrical conductor incorporated in said band, a rubber cord extending through said holes and of a length in the unstretched state shorter than that of said support, so as to urge said band toward the accordion-plaited state thereof, and means for interconnecting the respective ends of said band and said rubber cord.

5. An extensible electrical conductor system which comprises, in combination, an inextensible support in the form of a band provided with a plurality of holes so positioned that by folding said band in an accordion-planted manner they are all brought into a line, a plurality of parallel electrical conductors incorporated in said band, a rubber cord extending through said holes and of a length in the unstretched state shorter than that of said support, so as to urge said band toward the accordion-plaited state thereof, and means for interconnecting the respective ends of said band and said rubber cord.

FELIX DANSARD. 

